Hollywood Derby

Hollywood Derby is a rare electro-mechanical (EM) horse-racing counter game from an unknown manufacturer, designed for use at carnivals rather than as a coin-operated arcade machine. Games like this were typically lined up twenty or more in a row, each individually numbered; players would pay a carnival attendant directly to compete against each other, repeatedly and quickly shooting balls to advance their numbered horse on a backboard display behind the attendant.

The game's compact cabinet measures 28 1/2 inches long and 18 1/2 inches wide, with its name printed along the curve of the upper ball arch. Because it was operated by an attendant rather than paying customers feeding a slot, Hollywood Derby has no coin slot at all -- payment and prize redemption were handled directly by the carnival worker running the game.

Little else is documented about Hollywood Derby's manufacturer or design history, but its format is a well-known category of carnival amusement: fast-paced, competitive racing games meant to draw a crowd and reward the fastest shooter with a prize or redemption tickets.